SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Northwest Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Northwest Colorado District (NWD) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes notice of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Jones, NWD NEPA Coordinator, telephone 970-244-3008; see address above; email erjones@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications devicefor the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Northwest Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS to address a range of alternatives focused on specific conservation measures across the Northwest Colorado range of the Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG). This Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS is one of 15 separate planning efforts that are being undertaken as part of the BLM's and U.S. Forest Service's National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS proposes to amend the RMPs for the Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction, Kremmling, Little Snake, and White River field offices, as well as the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) for the Routt National Forest.